Normalized Text

[Page 1]Mrs. Aird

Dear Sir

I was favoured with yours yesterday, but
could not answer it in course and it appeared to me
such as was not to be answered in a hurry.

After studying the Case as much as I can I am
persuaded it is entirely a Menstrual affair, but
depending upon a state of the Uterine System, that
is not easily explained. Her being liable to certain
pains at the coming on of the Menstrua, shows
that the business did not proceed regularly and
I have frequently observed that Women particularly
Wives not breeding Children ↑liable to Dysmenorrhea↑ were ↑also↑ liable to greater
irregularities, sometimes Suppressions, and sometimes
excessive discharges. What you took for a breedingin October last, was probably only a Suppression
and it is especially probable that the dischargein November was at or about the [period?], {illeg}an excess of the Menstrual effects {illeg}{illeg}

[Page 2]

{illeg} when the effects of Nature do not take the
course by the Uterus, their determinations into the
other parts of the System, are wonderfully various.
It is thus in general that I account for the pain
and {illeg} occurring first in the one limb, and
afterwards in the other, and I cannot think that
with any propriety they are to be called Rheumatic.
I think you have every proper view of the subject
when you dread the recurrence of the Menstrual
period, and in my opinion that it should be
your chief business to obviate the irregular motionwhich may recur at that period. Though some
fever has hitherto constantly occurred I am dissuaded
to . think that Spasmodic motions are at the bottom
of the whole, and I have therefore in all such Cases
employed Opiates very freely, and by taking care
to keep the belly open, and at some time {illeg}¬
tring the Spasms of the Uterine vessels by
{illeg} I have found great benefit in several
[Page 3]

Cases obviated many disorders, or irregular motionof the System, which otherwise were ready to come
on at such periods, and I cannot give you a better
judgement upon this occasion. Submitting it to be
{illeg}cted according to circumstances by you
{illeg} who are upon the Spot, I offer
you {illeg} advice.

{illeg}Stomach will bear it I could
give {illeg} Root bark, and if possible to two
drams every day. I would make a Mass of one part
of Aloes and three parts good asafoetida, and of
this I would give one or two Pills every night
at bed time, or as much as would keep her bellyregular without any appearance of purging. Two
or three days before her Menstrual period {illeg}{illeg} I would every Evening give a large Emollientinjection, but no otherwise Purgative than so
fas as necessary to make its being [rendered?] after
some time. At the same time I would every Evening
{illeg}{illeg}

[Page 4]

to 98 I would think the proper temperature.
Under this management if any pains pointing
out the approach of Menstruation, or any other
Symptoms that may be imputed to the same
cause should come on, I would immediately give
an Opiate in a tolerably full dose, and repeat it
freely as circumstances may require and especially
as success shall direct. I have thus given you
the result of the most faithful attention and
wishing you heartily success and with Compli¬
ments to Dr. Grahame I am with sincere
regard

Dear Dr..
your most Obedient Servant

William Cullen,

Edinburgh 2d. February
1786

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]Mrs. Aird

Dear Sir

I was favoured with yours yesterday, but
could not answer it in course and it appeared to me
such as was not to be answered in a hurry.

After studying the Case as much as I can I am
persuaded it is entirely a Menstrual affair, but
depending upon a state of the Uterine System, that
is not easily explained. Her being liable to certain
pains at the coming on of the Menstrua, shows
that the business did not proceed regularly and
I have frequently observed that Women particularly
Wives not breeding Children ↑liable to Dysmenorrhea↑ were ↑also↑ liable to greater
irregularities, sometimes Suppressions, and sometimes
excessive discharges. What you took for a breedingin October last, was probably only a Suppression
and it is especially probable that the dischargein November was at or about the [period?], {illeg}an excess of the Menstrual effects {illeg}{illeg}

[Page 2]

{illeg} when the effects of Nature do not take the
course by the Uterus, their determinations into the
other parts of the System, are wonderfully various.
It is thus in general that I account for the pain
and {illeg} occurring first in the one limb, and
afterwards in the other, and I cannot think that
with any propriety they are to be called Rheumatic.
I think you have every proper view of the subject
when you dread the recurrence of the Menstrual
period, and in my opinion that it should be
your chief business to obviate the irregular motionwhich may recur at that period. Though some
fever has hitherto constantly occurred I am dissuaded
to . think that Spasmodic motions are at the bottom
of the whole, and I have therefore in all such Cases
employed Opiates very freely, and by taking care
to keep the belly open, and at some time {illeg}¬
tring the Spasms of the Uterine vessels by
{illeg} I have found great benefit in several
[Page 3]

Cases obviated many disorders, or irregular motionof the System, which otherwise were ready to come
on at such periods, and I cannot give you a better
judgement upon this occasion. Submitting it to be
{illeg}cted according to circumstances by you
{illeg} who are upon the Spot, I offer
you {illeg} advice.

{illeg}Stomach will bear it I could
give {illeg} Root bark, and if possible to two
drams every day. I would make a Mass of one part
of Aloes and three parts good asafoetida, and of
this I would give one or two Pills every night
at bed time, or as much as would keep her bellyregular without any appearance of purging. Two
or three days before her Menstrual period {illeg}{illeg} I would every Evening give a large Emollientinjection, but no otherwise Purgative than so
fas as necessary to make its being [rendered?] after
some time. At the same time I would every Evening
{illeg}{illeg}

[Page 4]

to 98 I would think the proper temperature.
Under this management if any pains pointing
out the approach of Menstruation, or any other
Symptoms that may be imputed to the same
cause should come on, I would immediately give
an Opiate in a tolerably full dose, and repeat it
freely as circumstances may require and especially
as success shall direct. I have thus given you
the result of the most faithful attention and
wishing you heartily success and with Compli¬
ments to Dr. Grahame I am with sincere
regard

Dear Dr..
your most Obedient Servant

William Cullen,

Edinr. 2d. Febry.
1786

XML

XML file not yet available.

Feedback

Send us specfic feeback about this document [DOC ID:5201]

Type

Comments

Please note that the Cullen Project team have now disbanded but your comments will be logged in our system and we will look at them one day...